Car Review: 2004 Audi S4

2004 Audi S4

PHOTO: Handout, Audi

By David Booth, Canwest News Service

Originally published: August 10, 2011

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Audi’s North American public relations department made a slight boo-boo last January. In an effort to save some of its marketing dollars, it combined the press launches of the new S4 along with our first-ever viewing of its latest supercar, the RS6 (unfortunately not sold here in Canada because its astronomical price tag would mean a minuscule sales volume).

Now, the S4 is a fine animal, what with a 340-horsepower V8 and a high-performance all-wheel-drive system. But, then, the RS6 ups the ante by having that same V8 boosted with the addition of not just one but two turbochargers.

Total damage: 450 rootin’ tootin’ stallions. Care to guess which one we all raved about? Considering how much I enjoyed driving the S4 for the last week, it’s a horrible shame.

New for 2004, the S4 shoehorns Audi’s top-of-the-line 40-valve V8 into the space usually reserved for the company’s 1.8-litre four or its mid-sized V6. It’s cramped quarters, so much so that Audi literally had to shorten the engine by 52 millimetres to get it to fit. The camshafts had to be modified, as were the oil and water pumps.

It was worth the effort. With 340 hp on hand, the S4 has urge that no other A4 has ever had. In fact, that number is just slightly ahead of the segment’s standard bearer, the BMW M3 and its 333-hp in-line six.

Like most German high-performance engines, this one likes to spin. Maximum torque is a more than adequate 302 pounds-feet, but like the horsepower, which peaks at a lofty 7,000 rpm, maximum torque occurs well up the rev scale. Below 3,000 rpm, throttle response is good but hardly scintillating.

Spin the multi-valve engine harder and things start moving much more quickly. The added weight and friction of Audi’s quattro all-wheel-drive system may blunt the charge somewhat, but this is still one very rapid automobile.

But it’s very different from the M3, with which it will be most often compared. Where the Bimmer is all excitable and raspy, the S4 is smooth and sophisticated. So smooth, in fact, that it might persuade you that you’re not going very fast — until, that is, flashing cherries start appearing in your rear-view mirror.

The same applies to the S4’s handling. Nowhere near as firm as the M3’s suspension, the S4’s all-independent system is more compliant. The S4, unlike the M3, also understeers when pushed hard.

Even with the ESP electronic nanny switched off, the S4 refuses to oversteer, preferring the benign safety of pushing the front end. On the other hand, by the time you run out of grip from the P235/40R18 performance radials you’re probably running from the aforementioned flashing cherries.

It’s worth remembering that Audi’s quattro permanent four-wheel-drive system with Torsen torque-sensing centre differential is one of the best drivetrains for fast driving in inclement conditions. And once again I had no opportunity to test its abilities. Listening to last week’s news, I got all hyped about being one of the few people who would be able to drive through Isabel, but as a hurricane it was a bit of a flop (in Toronto, anyway).

The S4 is even more relaxed inside. For instance, the 12-way adjustable Recaro seats are sufficiently bolstered without feeling overly restricted. These are some of the best seats in existence. They are covered in what Audi calls Silk Nappa leather. You can even get them with Alcantara seat inserts, my favourite being the electric blue that really lights up the cabin.

Like the entire A4 lineup, the cabin’s major problem is a lack of rear seat room. Virtually all the European entry-level luxury sedans have the same problem. Up until now, that hasn’t been much of a problem, but the introduction of the Cadillac CTS-V with 400 hp, sharp handling and spacious rear seats proves that sportiness doesn’t have to mean tight rear legroom.

On the positive side, there are also heated front seats, climate control, heated outside mirrors, front and side air bags for the front-seat passengers and a 10-speaker audio system with an in-dash CD player.

There are a few more items on offer such as the upgraded, Bose 225-watt audio system ($920), as well as a navigation system available and an OnStar telematics system.

The S4 also retails for less than what Audi originally forecast. At first it looked like the Canadian base price might hit $75,000, a number sure to doom it to poor comparison with the M3. Instead it is priced at a more reasonable $67,950.